timonweb/django-tailwind

What is it?

Key features

• 01Generates a ready-to-use Tailwind app inside a Django project.
• 02Standalone binary mode works without Node.js.
• 03Hot reloading for CSS, Tailwind config and Django templates.
• 04Starts Django and Tailwind development servers with one command.
• 05Optional DaisyUI integration for prebuilt components.
• 06Management command for installing Tailwind plugins.

Use cases

• Adding Tailwind CSS styling to an existing Django site without a JavaScript build setup.
• Prototyping Django templates with utility classes and live reload.
• Building a Django project on a machine where Node.js is unavailable or undesired.

Quick start

1. 1

   Install django-tailwind with recommended extras

   pip install 'django-tailwind[cookiecutter,honcho,reload]'
2. 2

   Add "tailwind" to INSTALLED_APPS in settings.py

3. 3

   Create the Tailwind app

   python manage.py tailwind init
4. 4

   Install Tailwind CSS dependencies

   python manage.py tailwind install

Things to know

• !Requires Python 3.11 or newer and Django 5.2 or newer.
• !The npm-based installation mode requires Node.js 22 or newer.

Topics

FAQ

What is django-tailwind?

A Django app that integrates Tailwind CSS into a Django project, with a standalone binary mode that needs no Node.js. django-tailwind sets up Tailwind CSS inside a Django project. The `tailwind init` command generates a new Django app (named theme by default) containing the Tailwind configuration and CSS files, and the `tailwind install` and `tailwind dev` commands handle dependencies and development.

Is django-tailwind free to use? What license does it have?

django-tailwind is open source under the MIT license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.

Is django-tailwind still maintained?

Actively maintained. The last commit to django-tailwind was on Oct 15, 2026.

What can I use django-tailwind for?

Adding Tailwind CSS styling to an existing Django site without a JavaScript build setup. Prototyping Django templates with utility classes and live reload. Building a Django project on a machine where Node.js is unavailable or undesired.

How do I install django-tailwind?

Install django-tailwind with recommended extras: pip install 'django-tailwind[cookiecutter,honcho,reload]' Add "tailwind" to INSTALLED_APPS in settings.py Create the Tailwind app: python manage.py tailwind init Install Tailwind CSS dependencies: python manage.py tailwind install

Where can I get django-tailwind?

The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/timonweb/django-tailwind